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Nobody in Downing Street made 'loon slur' - No 10 Nobody in Downing Street made 'loon slur' - No 10
(35 minutes later)
No 10 has denied that "anyone in Downing Street" made comments reported in several newspapers describing Tory activists as "mad, swivel-eyed loons".No 10 has denied that "anyone in Downing Street" made comments reported in several newspapers describing Tory activists as "mad, swivel-eyed loons".
The reports claimed a figure close to David Cameron used the term in blaming activists for pressing MPs to amend the Queen's Speech over Europe. The reports claimed a figure close to the PM used the term at a party event in blaming activists for urging MPs to amend the Queen's Speech over Europe.
They sparked anger among the Conservative grassroots. They sparked anger among grassroots Conservatives, who demanded an inquiry.
Party co-chairman Grant Shapps said it was strange that no-one was named in the reports as having made the comment. Party chairman Grant Shapps said it was difficult to comment as the words were not attributed to a named individual.
"I wasn't there to overhear a conversation," he told the BBC, referring to the private event at which the comments are said to have been made. "I wasn't there to overhear a conversation," he told the BBC, referring to the private event.
He said it was "very difficult to combat" stories attributed to unnamed sources, adding: "Until somebody produces a name, it's impossible to know."
Daily Telegraph political editor James Kirkup tweeted: "I stand by my story."Daily Telegraph political editor James Kirkup tweeted: "I stand by my story."
His paper, along with The Times and the Daily Mirror, had reported that the comments were by someone with "strong social connections" to the prime minister, although they did not name the speaker. His paper, along with The Times and the Daily Mirror, had reported that the comments were by someone with "strong social connections" to David Cameron, although they did not name the speaker.
"There's really no problem," the person is reported to have said, referring to more than 100 Conservatives who voted to express "regret" at the lack of an EU referendum bill. 'Brilliant volunteers'
"There's really no problem," the person is reported to have said, referring to the fact that 116 Conservative MPs voted against the prime minister earlier this week to express "regret" at the lack of an EU referendum bill in the Queen's Speech.
"The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons.""The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons."
Conservative associations are the constituency campaign groups made up of local party members.Conservative associations are the constituency campaign groups made up of local party members.
Mr Shapps said he had never heard grassroots members described in this way, adding: "We have brilliant volunteers in the party."
A No 10 spokesman said: "It is categorically untrue that anyone in Downing Street made the comments about the Conservative Party Associations and activists reported in the Times and the Telegraph."A No 10 spokesman said: "It is categorically untrue that anyone in Downing Street made the comments about the Conservative Party Associations and activists reported in the Times and the Telegraph."
Mr Shapps' fellow co-chairman, Lord Feldman, also issued a statement in which he said rumours claiming he was the individual in question were untrue. Mr Shapps' fellow chairman, Lord Feldman, also issued a statement in which he said rumours claiming he was the individual in question were untrue.
"There is speculation on the internet and on Twitter that the senior Conservative Party figure claimed to have made derogatory comments by the Times and the Telegraph is me," it said."There is speculation on the internet and on Twitter that the senior Conservative Party figure claimed to have made derogatory comments by the Times and the Telegraph is me," it said.
"This is completely untrue. I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner. I am taking legal advice.""This is completely untrue. I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner. I am taking legal advice."
Both Mr Shapps and Downing Street said they backed Lord Feldman's position.Both Mr Shapps and Downing Street said they backed Lord Feldman's position.
Party activists had earlier expressed anger at the reports. Bob Woollard, chair of umbrella group Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC it was "absolute madness to criticise your own troops". Party activists have expressed anger at the reports, and Bob Woollard, chair of umbrella group Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC there should be a "full-scale inquiry".
"These comments are so arrogant and pompous as to be unbelievable," he said, adding that Mr Cameron should publicly distance himself from them. "The prime minister should disassociate himself from these comments. If those rumours are true, the person should be sacked," he said.
Mr Woollard, the former chair of Wycombe Conservative Association, said he had "a lot of sympathy with what Nigel Farage said when UKIP were criticised similarly". Mr Woollard said Mr Cameron had surrounded himself with a "metropolitan elite" and modernisers who were out-of-touch with the party membership.
Grassroots members had been subject to "all sorts of derogatory comments" in the past, said Mr Woollard, who had earlier said he had "a lot of sympathy with what Nigel Farage said when UKIP were criticised similarly".
In 2006, Mr Cameron described the UK Independence Party as "sort of a bunch of... fruit cakes and loonies and closet racists mostly".In 2006, Mr Cameron described the UK Independence Party as "sort of a bunch of... fruit cakes and loonies and closet racists mostly".
'Offensive and foolish''Offensive and foolish'
Reacting to the latest reports, Mr Farage tweeted: "If you are a Conservative supporter who believes in UKIP ideas then your party hates you. Come and join us."Reacting to the latest reports, Mr Farage tweeted: "If you are a Conservative supporter who believes in UKIP ideas then your party hates you. Come and join us."
Mr Cameron has said he wants the UK to stay in the EU but wants to change Britain's relationship with it, taking back some powers from Brussels.Mr Cameron has said he wants the UK to stay in the EU but wants to change Britain's relationship with it, taking back some powers from Brussels.
However, 116 Conservative backbenchers supported this week's amendment to the Queen's Speech expressing regret over the lack of firm plans for a referendum. Although the motion was defeated, opponents called it a blow to the prime minister's authority. In the wake of the Queen's Speech vote, Mr Cameron then said his party would give full support to a private member's bill from Eurosceptic backbencher James Wharton outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017.
In the wake of the vote, Mr Cameron then said his party would give full support to a private member's bill from Eurosceptic backbencher James Wharton outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Saturday morning, Mr Wharton described the "loons" comments as the result of a "lapse of judgement", saying they were "offensive and foolish".
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Saturday morning, Mr Wharton described the comments as the result of a "lapse of judgement", saying they were "offensive and foolish".
"It's such a shallow and inaccurate assessment of what's going on," he said, adding that it did not reflect the reasons behind MPs' decisions to back the amendment."It's such a shallow and inaccurate assessment of what's going on," he said, adding that it did not reflect the reasons behind MPs' decisions to back the amendment.